Rahul Dravid, the former captain and coach of India, called cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics ‘phenomenal’. For any athlete, Dravid believed, being a part of the atmosphere and spirit created by the Olympic games was a dream come true.
At India House – Celebrating India at the Paris Olympics 2024, Dravid remarked, “If you love sport as much as I have, you grow up with the Olympics.” “My first memories are of television visiting India and Carl Lewis winning an Olympic gold medal.
Watching these incredible sportsmen play and perform on television used to keep us riveted to the screens. You’ve always wished to take part in outstanding occasions. Great cricket events occur, but they are isolated occurrences. For any athlete, being in this atmosphere, with its unique intensity and vibe, is a dream come true.
After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Mumbai last year, cricket was formally added to the list of five sports that will be played at the international sporting event in Los Angeles, along with flag football, lacrosse, baseball/softball, and squash. There will be six teams from the men’s and women’s competitions participating in the T20 format match.
In addition to reflecting on the fervour for the game in one of cricket’s newest hubs, Dravid recently led India to victory in their second T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the USA. “We are aware that cricket has a huge following in the United States.
We can infer that from the sheer number of Americans who travel to other World Cup events. In the USA, there is a great deal of passion for the game. It was amazing how the game was expanding and how many more people were playing it, he remarked.
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“I’ve always thought that cricket ought to be played at the Olympics.” It’s a really fantastic game. Many people all throughout the world follow it. For someone like me who is now just a fan, it is amazing. It really is amazing,” he continued.